Sugar-soft beaches, scenic bays and sultry bayous bring buyers and tourists to Orange Beach. Located on the clear, blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Orange Beach is home to over 8,000 residents who live waterside year-round. “It’s a family-oriented community," says Realtor Antoni Figueiredo, team leader at Local Property Inc., who has been selling homes for nearly a decade. "This area is touristy, but family and community are essential--we know our neighbors here." In addition to the family and community-centric feel, there's plenty of all-ages dining, retail and entertainment along Perdido Beach Boulevard. Local parks and trails along coastal habitats appeal to outdoorsy residents. It's a big area for boating, so Orange Beach has several marinas, and many homes on the water have private docks. And, of course, the beaches offer access to swimming, surfing and sunbathing. The city has been a popular spring break destination, and to keep the community safe for all residents, alcohol is banned on the beaches during tourist season. Orange Beach's investments in its city, including a new wildlife center and other community amenities, promise future growth for the family-friendly city of Orange Beach.
The wide open secluded beaches of Alabama Point an excellent place to catch a sunset.
The newly constructed Wharf Marina has boat slips for boats of all sizes.
Waterfront homes in Orange Beach have long docks with private boat houses.
At the wharf in Ocean Beach there are fantastic boutiques for your shopping spree.
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Major industry in Orange Beach
With its beaches lined with restaurants, boutiques and resorts, tourism is undoubtedly one of Orange Beach's most significant industry sectors. However, not everyone in the hospitality or service industry lives in town. Other significant employers include Orange Beach City Public Schools, Baldwin County Public Schools, healthcare and manufacturing companies like Collins Aerospace. It's also worth noting that Orange Beach is a popular place for retirement-aged adults to live.
Gulf Shores Elementary School is an A- rated school.
South Baldwin Regional Medical Center is the closest hospital to Orange Beach.
Collins Aerospace is a major employer in the town of Foley close to Orange Beach.
There are large retail employers close by to Orange Beach.
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Orange Beach's homes are 60% higher than the national average
The median home value in Orange Beach is $453,700, 60% higher than the national median home value of $281,900. Close to the beach are luxury high-rise condos overlooking the water, with prices between $800,000 and $1.5 million. There are also lifted waterfront homes, typically priced between $720,000 and $800,000. Farther away from the beach, there's a mix of mobile home communities with prices between $345,000 and $500,000 and large traditional homes that may be priced anywhere between $600,000 and up to $10 million.
Beautiful beachfront homes line the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in Orange Beach.
Many Orange Beach neighborhoods have traditional brick style homes.
High-end motorcoach resorts are a popular place to live in Orange Beach.
The Gulf Shores in Orange Beach are lined with high-rise luxury condos.
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Orange Beach City Schools
Orange Beach City Schools, which opened in 2022, serves the community. Over 1,200 students attend two campuses: Orange Beach Elementary and Orange Beach Middle & High School. The district receives an A-minus on Niche and is rated the fourth-best district in the Mobile area. The district utilizes a mix of challenging academics, vocational programs and project-based learning to create a well-rounded curriculum.
Orange Beach Middle / High School ranks as an A rated school.
Gulf Shore High School is among the higher ranked schools in the county.
Gulf Shores High School is an A- rated school.
Gulf Shores Elementary School is an A- rated school.
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Orange Beach Waterfront Park
White sand beaches and crystal blue waters are the biggest draw in Orange Beach, where residents have nearly year-round access to sunbathing, swimming and boating. Residents share multiple public access points along the shore with visitors during tourist season. Several parks amongst the various islands make up Orange Beach, which offers semi-private, lush beaches amongst the bayous and marshes. Residents can enjoy the fishing pier or art center at Orange Beach Waterfront Park or head to Gulf State Park, which has a nature center and almost 40 miles of paved paths. "Gulf State Park is a favorite for my family," says Figueiredo. "My kids and I go biking on the trails, and you often see local families also enjoying the park." The city's Backcountry Trail is another favorite, rated the nation's best recreational trail in 2023 by USA Today. Fans of soccer can attend a game at the Orange Beach Sportsplex, while families can visit Adventure Island. This amusement park has laser tag, putt-putt golf, go-karts and bumper cars.
The Orange Beach Sports Complex has several soccer fields for locals and schools to use.
The playground at Waterfront Park is a popular place for parents to bring their kids.
The Waterfront Park fishing pier is an excellent place to go fishing in Wolf Bay.
The Hot Shop in the Arts Center at Orange Beach has master craftsman blowing glass.
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The Festival of Art is an Orange Beach stape
Orange Beach offers dining and retail along Perdido Beach Boulevard, which is lined with grocery stores, shopping plazas and restaurants. It's also only 10 miles from Gulf Shores's popular Original Oyster House Boardwalk. The Wharf Amphitheater is a popular music venue showing local and big-name acts at The Wharf complex, which also has a marina, restaurants and shops. For more retail, residents can drive to nearby Foley, which offers big-box retail chains.
In Orange Beach, several annual festivals draw residents and tourists alike. The Festival of Art has occurred every spring for over 40 years, offering more than 100 artists in visual, performing and culinary arts media. The annual Seafood Festival happens every February, offering food vendors, artisan craft vendors, live music, a kids play zone and the Makos Academics, Arts & Athletics Club car show, which raises funds for Orange Beach schools. Other festivals include Mardi Gras, Halloween events and an annual Freedom Festival.
Good vibes and great times in Elberta at the German Sausage Festival.
Music, fireworks, & all-American delight celebrating the July 4th at Owa in Foley, AL.
Sizzling grills, ice-cold brews, and the best crowd at Foley’s Burgers, Brats, & Beer Fest.
The Wharf Amphitheater is an excellent venue to catch a show in Orange Beach.
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Weather and commuting in Orange Beach
Orange Beach sits along the Gulf of Mexico, giving it a humid, subtropical climate with mild winters and hot, stormy summers. At least three hurricanes threaten the community every year, and the surf is often prone to rip currents. Orange Beach's website offers daily reports about weather events, surf conditions and hurricane evacuation assistance.
Orange Beach's main road, Perdido Beach Boulevard, connects the community to the neighboring cities of Gulf Shores, Perdido Key and Pensacola. The route connects to major thoroughfare Highway 59, which runs along Baldwin County's eastern shore until it meets Interstate 10. Orange Beach is about 50 miles from Mobile via I-10. The nearest hospital is South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, 18 miles from Orange Beach, and the closest airport is Gulf Shores International Airport, 10 miles away. Residents can utilize the Baldwin Regional Area Transit System to get around Baldwin County.
Gulf Shores International Airport has commercial flights in the summertime.
Baldwin Regional Area Transit System offers on-call public transportation.
Perdido Beach Blvd is the main artery up Orange Beach connection to Rt. 59 leading to I-10
I-10 is conveniently located not far from Orange Beach.
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Crime in Orange Beach
In Orange Beach, violent crimes are low, but as with many tourist areas, property crimes are high. In 2023, there were 10 recorded cases of violent crimes and 173 cases of property crimes. Compared to 2022, violent crimes decreased by 23%, and property crimes declined by 10%, according to Crime.Alabama.Gov, a collaboration between the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the University of Alabama.
Written By
Micaela Green
Photography Contributed By
Pete Barrett
Video By
Grace Kim
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Kristina Halfacre,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Orange Beach, AL sell after 99 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Orange Beach, AL over the last 12 months is $760,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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TOUR YOUR WAY! We have a tour to fit your needs- virtual, self-guided, or agent-guided. Discover luxury living at MAA Cypress Village in the heart of beautiful Orange Beach, AL. This prime location gives you all the amenities you would expect from coastal living. Our one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences allow you to live the resort lifestyle all year long. Come home to luxurious designer
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